New Toys!

I went on a bit of a shopping spree for the puppies on Amazon and we got a huge package of squeaker toys in the mail today. All of the dogs were super excited to play with their new wubbas, squigglys, and squeaky tennis balls. Deena has quite the affinity for squeaker toys, so she was in heaven! She's been walking around squeaking toys all day and making little piles of toys to roll around in...  She's been having so much fun. So cute!

Playtime!

I turned around from my desk and there was Deena, wagging her tail tail and bouncing around the den with our shy shepherd Lucia! They kept playing and playing until finally they were both rolling around on the floor like the goofy gals they are with grins across their sweet faces. It is impossible not to love them!

Car Rides and Adoption Events

Deena is really starting to enjoy car rides and jumps right in when we are ready to hit the road. She knows that car rides mean walks in the woods and lots of a/c blowing in her ears in the man made air (it's sadly just too hot for rolled down windows lately)! She is so goofy and always grinning at us from the backseat.

Deena is also starting to become more confident at the adoption events. People are able to pet her and she sits patiently next to our kitten fosters watching my boyfriend and I to make sure that we haven't disappeared on her. She is surprisingly not a treat motivated hound, but seems to like jerky and will happily accept a piece from everyone she meets. People often ask if she has been in dog fights because of her scars, but nothing could be further from the truth for this gentle girl. She doesn't have a mean bone in her whole body and is the sweetest hound you'll ever meet. This one is all love. I look forward to her getting braver at each adoption event and eventually showing everyone the lovely lady I know at home.

Antler Fun!

Deena is getting more comfortable every day! She has started to chew on antlers and loves squeaky toys. She is even starting to cautiously initiate playtime with the other dogs! She is such a good natured girl.

Trail Blazing

Deena came along with us and a couple of our bigger pups for a walk in the woods this evening. She sniffed the interesting plants and bravely crossed over the noisy bridges. Bikers and runners zoomed by and she just looked up at me to smile. This girl loves walks!

Bath Day!

Deena got to join in on our monthly bath day this afternoon. I must say that she took it like a champ. I lifted her into the walk in shower and she leaned against me while I started the water. As I was soaping her up she turned around and licked my knee. I toweled her off, sprayed her with some conditioning spray, and brushed her super soft coat. She has the most beautiful white fur. When we were all done she sat at the door and got a Blue Buffao treat (one of her favorites!). She also got a brand new pretty purple collar, which she has been wearing proudly around the house as if she has a new diamond necklace to show off.

Couch Cuddles

Deena is such a loving girl. She has been by my side since she came home with me on Friday night and is always seeking out love and affection.

Today she surprised me by jumping up onto the couch next to me and giving me a kiss. So now I have a permanent couch buddy. I'm one lucky lady!

Training Time!

Deena is such a good girl! She has already learned to come and sit! She likes treats, but she really prefers to impress for ear scratches and pats on the head.

This goofy girl knows she's doing everything right, so she flashes you that happy smile that says "I'm a good girl! Aren't I?!"

Here she is in action!

Dog beds are comfy!

Deena is finally enjoying the comfort of dog beds now that our house has a/c again! I think she's getting pretty comfy...

More love please!

Miss Deena has really opened up in such a short time! She keeps me company when I work from home and is always siting at my feet nuzzling me for some extra petting. Who could say no to that face?!

Belly rubs please!

Deena is the queen of cuddle time! Here she is asking for belly rubs. She LOVES belly rubs!

Those eyes will melt your heart. She is such a love!

Getting acquainted

Poor Deena was lucky enough to come to our house the evening of the big storm. We lost power along with most of Northern Virginia and Maryland, so Deena's first days with us were filled with flashlights and no a/c. I have to say that this shy love was a trooper though.

Her first night Deena cuddled with me in the dark. She never left my side and we were instant buddies. She has settled right in with us and our pack of dogs and cats. She is super sweet and very mellow. She appreciates a soft dog bed and likes to wander around in the backyard with the pups. She hasn't had one accident and is the picture of perfect behavior. Whoever adopts her will be very lucky indeed.

What does an Autoimmune Disorder mean?

When I heard that Deena had an autoimmune disorder, my first thought was... So what does that mean?

Deena has an autoimmune disorder called pemphigus. There are several types and we think she has foliates, which is a milder type. It is not contagious and is caused by Autoantibodies: the body creates antibodies that react to healthy tissue and cells as though they are pathogenic (diseased). It can happen in dogs due to a hereditary predisposition or excessive sun exposure.

Deena's condition is easily managed with a daily low dose of prednisone. Prednisone is a drug that is often used for treating autoimmune diseases in dogs. It is a synthetic, inactive corticosteroid that is chemically converted by the liver into prednisolone, an active steroid. The benefits of using the drug for treating a number of conditions has been well established. So it is a standard treatment.

Without the prednisone, Deena gets sores around her mouth, in her ears, on her feet, and in her genital area. At one point she was doing fine with an every other day dose, but we decided to up it to 5 mg once a day, which is still a very small dosage. We suspect she could be transitioned back to every other day with close monitoring, but she is doing great with the once a day schedule. In fact, she loves taking her pills with cheese!

Her medication is readily accessible at your vet's office or online and is very inexpensive. It is only $0.19/tablet, for a total cost of less than $6 a month.

To read more about pemphigus click here.

Meeting Deena

I met Deena a little over a year ago when she first arrived at LDCRF. She was a shy sweetheart, but you could tell that she was all love under that unique ridge back of hers. Deena has been overlooked for so long because she has an autoimmune disorder that requires an inexpensive daily medication. I believe there is a home out there for Deena and my goal is to show you what a wonderful dog she is so that you can love her as much as I do already. I cannot wait to bring her home this weekend as our newest foster dog!